The start of AMATO’s Derby was an unsatisfactory one. Before the flag was finally lowered there were three breaks away and when the signal to ‘go’ arrived two horses were left at the start whilst several others were slowly away. This was run on Wednesday 30th May 1838 and the winner was bred by Sir Gilbert Heathcote and trained by Ralph Sherwood at Epsom. There were 23 runners from 134 initial subscribers. The winner won by a length and the first prize was £4,005, the equivalent of £2,850,000 today. 1838-05-30 was his only racecourse appearance. He was then injured and retired undefeated. 1838-05-29《Canton Register》 reported that “…large ferry boats still come and go with smuggled goods. Customs officers pursued them and the foreigners fired muskets. The foreigners are indeed proud, obstinate and perverse.”
1838-06-12《Saturday Magazine》published an editorial comment “this history of tobacco gives grounds for optimism in our opium trade.”